Drain cock



Dec. 92.4 1,517,384

E. G. SAMPSON DRAIN COCK Filed June 21. 1923 l5 Inventor Patented Dec. 2, i924.

ERICK G. SAMPSON, 01 JAMESTOVN. NEW! YORK.

DRAIN COCK.

Application filed June 21,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ERICK G. SAMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 14-1 Newton Street, in the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, has invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Drain Cocks, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specitication.

This invention relates to an improvement in drain cocks and more particularly to drain cocks used in automobile radiators and other liquid containers, which are exposed to the weather.

It is well known that in radiators and otherliquid containers which are exposed to weather there is danger of much damage being caused by the freezing of the liquid therein. Several means have been devised for avoiding this diflicult, but so far as is known such means necessitate achange in construction of the container or the provision of other appendages in addition to the drain cook.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a drain cock which can be substituted for and will function in the same manner as the drain cock ordinarily used and which will in addition protect the container from damage due to freezing of the liquid contents.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a drain cock of this type in which a portion is made of glass or other frangible material so that in case the temperature falls below the freezingpoint of the liquid in the container, the material will break and permit the draining of the container to prevent the freezing of the liquid therein. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a drain cock in which the glass or frangible material is made in the form of a tube located above the valve of the cock, so that under normal conditions the liquid will flow through the tube to the valve, whereby this drain cock can be substituted for the ordinary drain cock without interfering in any way with the normal use of the container.

Other objects will appear from a consideration of the specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a portion 1923. serial No. ceases.

of aliquid container equipped with one embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross section of such embodiment taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

This invention is shown applied to the radiator of a water cooled hydrocarbon engine, but it is obvious that it can he used in any connection desired, the drain cock embodying this invention being so formed that it might be used in place of the ordinary drain cock.

In the drawings, the reference numeral is employed to designate the radiator of a water cooled hydrocarbon engine having an outlet pipe 11 through which the water from the radiator flows. Projecting from the water pipe 11 is provided a boss 12 internally threaded, as at 13 in the usual manner.

The drain cook 14 has a valve 15 and a tube 16 of glass or other frangible material. The upper end of the drain cock 1% is provided with external threads 17, which mesh with the threads 13 of the boss 12. As shown particularly in Fig. 2 the valve 15 is located at the lower portion of the drain cock 14-, and normally closes the outlet 18. The valve 15 is of the usual cylindrical type having a handle 19 and being held in the proper position by means of a spring 20 which surrounds the stem 21.

The tube 16 is mounted above the outlet 18 and is held in position by means of a tubular screw 22, which is threaded into engagement with the upper end of the drain cock. Suitable packing is provid d at the. top and bottom of the tube so that it can beheld tightly in position to prevent vibration. .As pointed out above, the tube 16 is in open communication with the radiator 10 and water pipe 11, which together form the liquid container, so that it is always full of liquid. The casing 24: of the drain cock is cut away, so that the tube 16 is exposed to the weather on all sides. Consequently when the temperature falls below the freezing point of the liquid, the small body of liquid in the tube 16 will freeze and the expansion reiulting from that action will break the tu e.

It might possibly be that the tube would not break, but merely crack when the liquid was frozen, and in order to be sure that the tube will break, means are provided which bear against the side of the tube to break the tube as soon as any indication of weak ness occurs. The means here shown consist of a pin 25 mounted in a boss 26 of the casing 24 and held by a spring 27 in contact with the tube 16 under all conditions. The spring and pin are seated in the boss 26 by means of a screw plug 28, which can be tightened or loosened as necessary in order to keep the pin under the proper tension. This tension is preferably as high as is teasible without danger oi breaking the tube.

Under normal conditions, the drain cock 14 functions as does any drain cock and can be used in the ordinary way. Vfhen, however, there is danger that the liquid in the container will freeze, the liquid in the tube 16 will first freeze and break or crack the tube. As soon as the tube weakens the pin 25 will, under the urge oi the spring 2?, at once force the broken tube out or position, thus permitting the tree passage for the liquid and allowing the contcuner to orain. A new tube can be quickly substituted for the broken one by remo 'ing the drain cocl: from the pipe and taking out the screw and upper washer, and it is my intention to supply with each drain cock a plurality of tubes for this purpose.

While one embodiment only or this invention has been shown and described, I am not to be limited thereto since it is obvious that others may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A drain cock for a liquid container comprising the combination with a valve, of a glass tube through which the liquid in the container is conducted to said valve under normal conditions, said tube being always full of the liquid and exposed to the weather, so that when the temperature falls below the freezing point of the liquid, the tube will break and allow the liquid to drain from the container regardless of the position of the valve.

2. A drain cock for a liquid container comprising the combination with a valve, oi a glass tube through which the liquid in the container is conducted to said valve under normal conditions, said tube being always full of the liquid and exposed to the Weather, so that when the tei'nperature falls below the freezing point of the liquid, the tube will break and allow the liquid to drain from the container regardless of the position of the valve, and means for ejecting the broken tube to allow free passage of the liquid.

3. A drain cock for a liquid container con'iprising; the coml'iination with a valve, of aglass tube through which the liquid in the container is conducted to said valve under normal conditions, said tube being always full or the liquid and exposed to the weather, so that when the temperature falls below the freezing point of the liquid, the tube will break and allow the liquid to drain from the container regardless of the position or the valve, and means bearing against the side or the tube for ejecting the broken pieces thereof to allow free passage of the liquid.

A drain cock for a liquid container comprising the con'ibination with a valve, of a glass tube through which the liquid in the container is conducted to said valve under normal conditions, said tube being always "full of the liquid. and exposed to the Weather, so that when the temperature falls below the freezing point of the liquid, the tube will break and allow the liquid to drain from the container regardless of the position of the valve, and spring tensi-oned means bearing against the side of the tube for ejecting the broken pieces thereof to allow tree passage of the liquid.

5. A drain cock for a liquid container comprising the combination With a valve, of a glass tube above said valve in communication With the liquid in said container and through which the liquid is conducted to said valve under normal conditions said tube being exposed to the weather and adapted to be broken by the freezing of the liquid therein and a spring pressed pin held against the side of said tube and adapted to eject the broken tube to permit the free draining of the container.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ERICK G. SAMPSON. 

